1. aloha (uh Low hah) interjection –Hawaiian word used especially as a warm welcome or good-bye. Hawaiian (love, affection).
2. gung-ho adj. –Extremely enthusiastic; eager. A U.S. Marine Corps slogan in World War II; as, She was gung-ho to climb Mount McKinley. Chinese (work together)
3. heath n. –Open, uncultivated wasteland; tract or rough wilderness, often with shrubs and heather. Old English.
4. bon mot (bon mow) n. –Fitting remark or clever saying; as, a writer’s bon mot that a bore is “a person who talks when you wish him to listen.” French (good word).
5. bête noire (bet NWAAR) n. –Thing or person especially disliked or dreaded; as, Her bête noire is the time devoted to preparing tax returns. French (black beast).
6. décolleté (day kol TAY) adj. –Describing a dress or other garment having a low neckline. French de (off) and collect (collar).
7. déjà vu (day zha VU) n. The feeling that something has already been seen or experienced at an earlier time; as, the trial had a quality of déjà vu to it. French (already seen).
8. ottoman n. –Low cushioned seat without arms or back. Turkish.
9. incommunicado adj. –Unable or unwilling to communicate with others; as, They kept the prisoner incommunicado. Spanish.
10. touché (too SHAY) interjection -A word used in fencing to indicate a hit. By extension, an acknowledgement of a telling remark in debate or a clever retort. French (touched).
11. honcho n. –Slang for boss or leader of a small group. Japanese (squad leader).
12. faux pas (foh PAH) n. –Embarrassing sosial blunder; as, the faux pas of showing up casually dressed at a formal ceremony. French (false step).
13. vamoose v. –To depart hurriedly, rush away. Slang, from Spanish vamos (let’s go)
14. cicerone (sis uh ROW nee) n. –Guide who conducts tours and explains the features and history of a place. Italian (perhaps from Cirero, famous orator in ancient Rome).
15. veld (VELT) n. Open grassland with few bushes and trees, characteristic of South Africa. Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch veld (field).
16. kowtow v. To fawn over; show servile attention to someone. Chinese (originally an elaborate bow, touching the forehead to the ground as a sign of respect).
17. incognito adv. & adj. –Unknown; under a false name; keeping one’s identity a secret; as, Because of the book’s subject matter, the author decided to remain incognito. Italian.
18. esprit de corps (eh SPREE deh CORE) n. –Team spirit; pride in belonging to a particular organization; as, the esprit de corps of successful new business firms. French (spirit of a group).
19. czar n. –Someone in authority, especially in a particular field; as, the President’s education czar. Russian, ultimately from Latin Caesar.
20. entre nouns (ahn truh NEW) adv. Phrase –Confidentially, between ourselves; as, Entre nouns, I think Bill and Alison will elope. French (between us).
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